Degree Programs

Philosophy offers a major, as well as an Honors major, leading to a senior thesis, for qualified upper-class students. The Department offers a minor with a choice of "streams" in General Philosophy, History of Philosophy, Moral and Political Philosophy, Mind and Meaning, and Epistemology and Philosophy of Science. Minors take at least 15 credits in philosophy.

Philosophy majors and minors, as well as other students enrolled in philosophy courses, are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities with faculty and fellow students. These include the Undergraduate Philosophy Club and the undergraduate journal, Meteorite. The Department also helps to defray the cost of travel for students who have papers accepted at external undergraduate conferences. The Department sponsors an active program of guest speakers, often of interest to advanced undergraduates.

Prospective and current majors and minors are advised that selected intermediate-level courses are intended as bridges to more advanced offerings at the 400-level. The bridge courses fall into four categories:

History of Philosophy: 388 (History of Ancient) and 389 (Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century)

Logic: 303 (Symbolic Logic)

Mind and Reality: 345 (Language and Mind), 381 (Science and Objectivity), and 383 (Knowledge and Reality)